Lock

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a locking instrument effective to be easily constructed with simple structure, wherein said locking instrument can be released or locked by depositing floating balls to a predetermined position through magnetic attraction exerted by a magnetic key, said floating balls being freely movably mounted in cylindrical spacings formed between cylindrical barrels having one end closed and pistonlike members relatively slidably engaging each other defining therewith a shallow ball chamber, the diameter of each floating ball being smaller than that of each bottom plane of said cylindrical barrels and slightly less than the depth of the ball chamber while locking axial sliding of said pistonlike member, said floating balls being effective to enter into and snugly be accommodated in the interior of a recessed portion provided on the free end plane of the pistonlike member, additaments being provided in said free end plane to oppose movement of said ball into a position aligned with said recess and means coupling said barrel member and pistonlike member to an actuating member whereby when said ball is aligned with said recess said pistonlike member is freed to penetrate into said barrel member and said actuating member is conditioned to move from said locking to said unlocking position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Tomomasa Kajita 545 Oska-shi,Abeno-ku, Maruyama-dori 2-chome 3 ban lfi-go, Osaka, Japan [21] Appl.No. 810,191 [22] Filed Mar. 25, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 311, 1971 [32]Priority Jan. 20, 1969 J p [31 44/4241 [54] LUCK 9 Cflaims, 31 DrawingFigs.

[52] U.S. Cl 70/276, 70/153, 70/360, 70/386, 70/413, 292/150 [51] lint.Cl 1105b 47/00, EOSb 27/00 [50] Field of Search 70/276, 413, 360, 361,376, 386

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,116,011 5/1938 Bugg 70/2892,189,880 2/1940 Bugg 70/289 3,473,835 10/1969 Boyriven. 292/252 X428,247 5/1890 Fenner 70/276 2,177,996 10/ 1939 Raymond 70/386 2,732,7031/1956 Noregaard. 70/276 X 3,234,767 2/1966 Allander 1 eme OTHERREFERENCES Popular Science, February 1951, pages 219 and 220, article byWalter E. Burton; Published by Popular Science Publishing Co., Inc., 355Lexington Avenue, New York, NY. 10017, copy in class 70, subclass 290Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, .lr. Attorney-Edwin E. Greigg SCT: Thepresent invention relates to a locking instrument efi'ective to beeasily constructed with simple structure, wherein said lockinginstrument can be released or locked by depositing floating balls to apredetermined position through magnetic attraction exerted by a magnetickey, said floating balls being freely movably mounted in cylindricalspacings formed between cylindrical barrels having one end closed andpistonlike members relatively slidably engaging each other definingtherewith a shallow ball chamber, the diameter of each floating ballbeing smaller than that of each bottom plane of said cylindrical barrelsand slightly less than the depth of the ball chamber while locking axialsliding of said pistonlike member, said floating balls being efiectiveto enter into and snugly be accommodated in the interior of a recessedportion provided on the free end plane of the pistonlike member,additaments being provided in said free end plane to oppose movement ofsaid ball into a position aligned with said recess and means couplingsaid barrel member and pistonlike member to an actuating member wherebywhen said ball is aligned with said recess said pistonlike member isfreed to penetrate into said barrel member and said actuating member isconditioned to move from said locking to said unlocking position.

PATENTED M631 [9?! SHEET 8 [1F 9 PATENTEB M83] 19?: 3. 602.020

SHEET 7 BF 9 Fig 15 PATH-HEB AUBBI I97! 3,602,020

sum 8 OF 9 LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a locking instrument effective to be released or locked byretaining floating balls in predetermined positions in the presence orabsence of magnetic attraction exerted by the magnetic key.

The locking instrument of this type constructed so as to be released bydepositing said floating balls to the predetermined positions, while thelocked stage can be maintained so long as said floating balls do notposition thereto. Accordingly, in order to minimize the probability ofnatural positioning of said floating balls to the predeterminedreleasing positions, areas for said balls to freely reside should bepreferably large. In addition, for the purpose of minimizing the size ofthe locking instrument, the structures for retaining said balls withinthe above-mentioned areas and the structures for restricting themovement of the lock releasing members in the one-dimensional directionby means of said ball retained within said areas should be simple andcompact.

According to a conventional locking instrument of a type similar to thistype of locking instrument of the present invention, there is providedon relative contact surfaces of a pair of plates a pair of groovesextending in the secondary one-dimensional direction opposed to theprimary one-dimensional direction in which two plates are relativelyslidably in contact with each other, in order to establish the releasestage by the movement of one plate of said two plates, said groovesbeing provided to serve as passages. Movable members mounted in saidpassages are freely rollably provided in the secondary one-dimensionaldirection which is the lengthwise direction of any one of said passages.With these constructions, supplementary grooves for receiving saidmovable members extending in parallel relation to said primaryone-dimensional direction are provided on one of said pairs of plates inthe intersectional relation to the grooves provided thereon.

Hence, the locked stage in said conventional locking instrument isestablished when the movable members prevent said pair of plates fromrelatively moving while said movable member resides in said passagesapart from said supplementary grooves. On the contrary, when saidmovable members are attracted to said supplementary grooves throughmagnetic attraction exerted by the magnetic key employed to thepredetermined position, said movable members can fall in saidsupplementary grooves whereas said pair of plates commences torelatively move in said primary one-dimensional direction and therebyconvert the locking instrument from the locked stage to the releasedstage.

However, in this type of locking instrument, because said movablemembers can move only in the one-dimensional direction so that the areasfor said movable members to freely move are considerably narrowerlydefined, the probability of unexpected positioning of said movablemembers at the releasing positions in which they can fall will increase.There fore, there may be higher possibilities of being released withoutthe key. Moreover, partly because said grooves should be provided onboth pairs of plates, while one of said pairs of plates should beprovided with said supplementary grooves, and partly because saidgrooves and supplementary grooves should conform to each other betweensaid both plates, in addition that the structures for retaining saidmovable members therein, that is, the structures for restricting therelative movement of said pairs of plates are essential, the lockinginstrument may be so complicated that it may be difficult to manufactureor its size may be too large.

Another conventional locking instrument different in structure from theabovementioned locking instrument is constructed in such a way as toprovide in the lock housing a pair of movable members effective torelatively slide in the onedimensional direction, said pair of movablemembers being faced to each other in a separated condition, whereas thelocking instrument can be released when these relatively movable memberscommence their relative approaching movement, otherwise the locked stageis maintained. One of the relatively movable members is pivoted withneedles effective to command the relative approaching movement of theserelative movable members. Said needles are supported at the center ofthe length thereof, while permitting their points to swing in thetwo-dimensional direction of a plane substantially parallel to a planevertical in said one-dimensional direction. In other words, said needlescan freely point in any direction. The back ends of said needles areconstructed with magnets and said needles are maintained in thepredetermined posture relative to one of said relatively movable membersthrough magnetic attraction between the magnets provided in said needlesand the magnets provided in the magnetic key at the predeterminedposition while said key is osculated against the predetermined portionof the outer wall of said lock housing. At this moment, the points ofsaid needles are directed toward holes or recesses provided on the otherone of said relatively movable members. Only in this state can saidpoints pass through said holes or recesses permitting both relativelymovable members to approach each other. On the contrary, other than insaid state said point may contact the facing wall of the other one ofsaid relatively movable members apart from said holes or recesses,whereby projection of said needles will prevent both of the relativelymovable members from approaching each other.

However, in this type of locking instrument, a structure effective topermit the center of each of said needles to be supported by one of saidrelatively movable members results in a complicated structure and,because the locking instrument is of such a character that, when onemovable member approaches the other movable member while said needlesare in the inclined state, the points of said needles abut against saidmovable members and thereby prevent said movable member from approachingand said needles are forced to meet with possible bend or fracture whensaid movable member is forcibly or impactedly brought into approachingmovement and said points are pressed thereagainst in the inclined state.

The present invention is to eliminate these defects and thereby providea magnetically operable locking instrument.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a magneticlock having an actuating member movable between a locking position andan unlocking position and comprises in combination at least onecylindrical barrel member having one end closed, a pistonlike memberaxially slidable within the barrel member and defining therewith ashallow ball chamber of substantially cylindrical shape, a magnetizableball having a diameter slightly less than the depth of the ball chamberand freely movable in said ball chamber while blocking axial sliding ofsaid pistonlike member within the barrel member, a ball receiving recessprovided in one of the surfaces delimiting said ball chamber for snuglyaccommodating at least a portion of the ball therein, an additamentopposing movement of said ball into a position aligned with said recessand means coupling one of the barrel members and pistonlike member tothe actuating member, whereby when the ball is aligned with the recess,the pistonlike member is freed to penetrate into the barrel member andthe actuating member is conditioned to move from the locking to theunlocking position. Thus, even if the locking instrument of thisinvention is roughly shaken while said recessed portions face upwardunder the intention of releasing it without the key, the projectingperipheral edges from the free end planes of the pistonlike members willprevent the floating balls from passing over said peripheral edges intothe recessed portions. Therefore, said locking instrument is so securethat without the key, it can hardly be released.

The present invention relates to locking instruments comprising at leastone cylindrical barrel having one end closed and at least one pistonlikemember effective to relatively slidably engage each other and operablein two stages as hereinafter described, a floating ball residing in ashallow chamber formed between the free end plane of the respectivepistonlike member and the bottom plane of the respective cylindricalbarrel, the diameter of said floating ball being smaller than thediameter of each of said bottom plane and slightly less than the depthof said chamber, and a recessed portion provided on a portion of thefree end plane of the pistonlike member and having an additament tooppose movement of said ball, for accommodating said floating ball,whereas when said floating ball is accommodated in the recessed portion,said pistonlike member can be advanced deep in said cylindrical barrelin the axial direction thereof to establish the first stage, or whensaid floating ball is not accommodated in the recessed portion, thesecond stage is established with respect to the cylindrical barrel andthe pistonlike member wherein said spacing is formed between the freeend plane of the pistonlike member and the bottom plane of thecylindrical barrel so that said pistonlike member cannot be advanceddeep in said cylindrical barrel in the axial direction thereof becauseof the interference of said floating ball. Therefore, the lockinginstrument of the present invention can be released in said first stagewhen said pistonlike member is advanced deep in said cylindrical barreland at the same time accommodate said floating ball in said recessedportion by means of the magnetic force of a magnetic piece provided atleast in a key and/or in the floating ball residing adjacent to thebottom plane of the cylindrical barrel, the peripheral wall of thecylindrical barrel or the free end plane of the pistonlike member whilesaid cylindrical barrel and pistonlike member are included in theinterior of the cylindrical housing, said floating ball being defined inits position by said magnetic force so as to engage with said recessedportion.

The locking instrument of the present invention is thus designed so thatthe floating balls, considering several pistonbarrel combinations, canfreely roll in the cylindrical spacings formed between the free endplanes of the respective pistonlike members and the bottom planes of therespective cylindri cal barrels whereby the probability of unforeseenengagement of each of said floating balls into the associated recessedportions provided on one portion facing said cylindrical spacing can bereduced.

Whenever a magnet instead of a specific magnetic key is employed torelease the locking instrument of the present invention in such a way asto cause said floating balls to position in alignment with therespective recessed portions, said locking instrument cannot be releasedbecause of the less probability that said floating balls will engagethereinto. Therefore, the present invention provides a lockinginstrument that cannot be released without the specific magnetic key.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1-7 and 28 show the mainembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an assembled locking instrument inaccordance with the present invention representing the locked stage;

FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1 but representing the released stage;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a, 4b, 4c are front views of a front cover, collar and y FIG. 5 isa section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are illustrative diagrams showing the operational mode ofthe locking instrument shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 from the locked stage asindicated by dotted line to be released stage as indicated by full line,while in FIG. 7 there is shown the reversal operation thereof relativeto FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 in conjunction with FIG. 28 illustrates another embodimentaccording to the principles of this invention and is a side section, onan enlarged scale, of a portion wherein each of the pistonlike membersis inserted in each of the cylindrical barrels;

FIG. 9 in conjunction with FIG. 28 illustrates another em- 1 bodimentaccording to the principles of this invention and is a being a sectiontaken along line 13-13 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 in conjunction with FIG. 28 illustrates another embodiment ofthis invention and is a front elevation of a portion wherein a group ofpistonlike members and a group of cylindrical barrels are in engagementwith each other;

FIGS. 15-18 in conjunction with FIG. 28 illustrate another embodiment ofthis invention, FIGS. 15 and 16 being side elevations of the assembledlocking instrument, FIG. 15 being in the locked stage and FIG. 16 in thereleased stage but in the ready-to-be-released stage as shown by dottedline;

FIG. 17 is a section taken along line 17-17 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a section taken along line 18-18 in FIG. 15;

FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate another embodiment of this invention, FIG. 19being a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion wherein apistonlike member is to be fitted to a frame body, while FIG. 20 is aback view of a portion in which said pistonlike member is fitted to saidframe body;

FIG. 21 illustrates another embodiment of this invention and is a frontelevation, on an enlarged scale, of a portion wherein a pistonlikemember is fitted to a frame body;

FIG. 22 illustrates another embodiment of this invention and is a sideelevation, on an enlarged scale, of a portion wherein a pistonlikemember is inserted in a cylindrical barrel;

FIG. 23 illustrates another embodiment of this invention and is a sideelevation wherein a pistonlike member is inserted in a cylindricalbarrel;

FIGS. 24 and 25 in conjunction with FIG. 28 illustrate anotherembodiment of this invention, FIG. 24 showing a portion wherein apistonlike member is inserted in a cylindrical barrel in side elevationon an enlarged scale, and FIG. 25 showing a section taken along line2525 in FIG. 24;

FIGS. 26 and 27 in conjunction with FIG. 28 illustrate anotherembodiment of this invention, FIG. 26 showing a portion in frontelevation wherein a group of pistonlike members is inserted in a groupof cylindrical barrels, while FIG. 27 is a section taken along line27-27 of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 illustrates a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a portionwherein a pistonlike member is inserted in a cylindrical barrel;

FIG. 29 in conjunction with FIG. 28 illustrates another embodiment ofthis invention and is a side developed view of a portion wherein a groupof pistonlike members is inserted in a group of cylindrical barrels;

FIG. 30 illustrates another embodiment of this invention and is anelevation of a portion wherein a group of pistonlike members is fittedto a disc plate; and

FIG. 31 illustrates another embodiment of this invention and is amodification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In order that the invention may be clearlyunderstood and readily carried into effect, it will now be more fullydescribed with reference to the attached drawings, especially FIGS. 1-7and FIG. 28 depicting the main embodiment of the invention. Otherillustrated embodiments are only modifications of this main embodiment.

Numeral 103 indicates a plurality of cylindrical barrels substantiallylaterally secured to and suitably annularly spaced on the back plane 102of a front disc plug 101 for securely locking the device disclosed bythe present invention. Each of said cylindrical barrels 103 is formedcomplementally to receive the pistonlike member 104 therein. Thesecylindrical barrels and pistonlike members can be operated alternativelyto two stages which will be described later. Each projecting end 105portion of the pistonlike members 1041 is secured to the front wall 107of a disc plate 106, with each of said pistonlike members 1 being rigidwith said disc plate 106. In each of the means defining the apertures108, a cylindrical spacing 111 is formed between a portion of the backplane 102 of the front disc plug and a free end plane 110 of saidpistonlike member 1041, the portion being designated as bottom plane 109of said cylindrical hole 100. Floating balls 112, which are smaller indiameter than the diameter of each of the bottom planes 109, are freelymovable in each of the cylindrical spacings 111. Each terminal portionof the pistonlike member 1041 is provided with a ball receiving recess1113 for completely accommodating said floating balls 1112. F116. showsan additament 002 which opposes movement of said ball into a positionaligned with said recess.

When each of said balls 112 is correspondingly accommodated in each ofsaid recessed portions 113, each pistonlike member 113 is advanced itsfull length into the barrel 103. On the other hand, when the balls 112are not accommodated in the ball chambers they are interposed betweenthe terminus of the pistonlike members 1104 and the wall 109.

The pistonlike members 1041 and cylindrical barrels 103 are mounted in acylindrical housing 114 with the barrels being closed by the disc plug101. At one end of housing 1141 remote from the lock operating knob 150,a collar portion 115 is availed of to retain the disc plug 101 in saidhousing. The peripheral edge 116 of the plug 101 projects toward thecollar portion 115, and is provided as shown in FIG. 41a with two engagement grooves 117. The said collar portion 115 is provided with agroove 1119.

A key 1121 is provided with two engagement projections 122l122corresponding respectively with said engagement grooves 117, said keybeing in the form of a disc and effective to freely osculate with thefront plane 120 of said disc plug. The key 1121 is provided withpowerful magnetic pieces 1123 at suitable positions corresponding to therecessed portions 113 which are provided in the free end plane 110 ofthe pistonlike members 104. In addition, the floating balls 112 aremagnetizable so that when the magnetic key 121 is osculated into contactwith the front plane 120 in the second operational stage heretoforedescribed, the balls 112 then lying in the cylindrical spacings 111 areattracted by the magnetic force of pieces 123 thereby lifting the balls112 to an elevated position adjacent to the magnetic pieces 123 therebyestablishing the first operational stage.

The backing plug 11241 is telescoped into the cylindrical housing 11 1and secured therein by screws 125. The backing plug 1241 includes anannular projection 1127 which is provided with a cam surface 120.Another cam plane 129 complemental to cam plane 120 is provided on anannular projection 131 which is integral with and projects from thebackwall 130 of the disc plate 100. A compression spring 1341 isinterposed under tension in a chamber formed of the front wall 107 ofthe disc plate and a seat 1133 provided in the disc plug 101. When saidspring 1341 is energized as shown in MG. 1, the plug 101 is pushedtoward collar portion 115 while said disc plate 106 is pushed toward thebacking plug 1241, and at this moment the cam planes 120 and 120 are inengagement with each other.

A pillar 135 projecting from the center of the backwall of the discplate 100 includes a fork member 1130 and one end of a lock-operatingmember 130 is swingably pivoted to said fork member 1110 through atransverse pin 1317 while the other end thereof extends through a hole139 provided substantially in the center of said backing plug 1241. Theouter wall 1410 of said backing plug 12d and the inner wall M2 of aboxlike housing M1 arranged adjacent thereto are rigidly connected bymeans of a plurality of screws 109 to form an integral unittherebetween. In the center of the inner wall 1412 of said boxlikehousing 11411 is provided an aperture M13, coaxial with said opening130, within which aperture 1413 is provided a rotatable boss member14141 having a rectangular window M5 through the axis thereof. The lockoperating member is inserted through the axis thereof. The lockoperating member 1138 is inserted through said rectangular window and iseffective to swing in the axial direction thereof. The major arc edge ofa segment 146 which is integral with the boss member 141 1 extendsradially into the boxlike housing. Coaxial with aperture 143 is anopening M01 in housing 11411 and within which a revolvable shaft 149 isretained. One end of said shaft extends through the aperture 1410 and isprovided with a lock operating knob 150, while the other end thereof isrigid with a segment 151 carrying a pin 113.

Referring at this time to FlG. 5, one or the other of the edges 152 ofsaid segment 151 is constantly pressed by a V- shaped plate spring 153,one leg ofwhich is received in groove 154 while the reentrant bentportion is seated in groove 1150' in the upper portion of the housing141. In housing 1411, a locking plate 155 is transversely shiftablyprovided between the segments 1416 and 151, and an integral lockingelement projecting from the locking plate 155 in the direction of theshifting action of said plate 155 can reciprocate through a passageway150 provided on one sidewall 157 of the housing M1 and an opening 160provided on a locking element receiving member 159 located beside thehousing 1 11.

The locking plate 155, is slotted at 1161, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and5, 6 and 7, and arranged to receive a locking pin 163. One end of pin163 is secured to a wall adjacent to the minor arc edge 164 of saidsegment 151 and is positioned out of the axis of the shaft 11419 whichis the rotational center for said segment 151.

The locking instrument of the present invention is thus constructed asheretofore described, and is commonly adoptable to doors, covers,windows, etc., for security or any other purposes. However, in theattached drawings, the locking instrument of the present invention isprovided in connection with a door frame in such a way as to rigidly fitthe cylindrical housing 1% to a complementally formed aperture 160provided in a door frame 165 and is so arranged that the collar portion115 and the front disc cover 101 are exposed outside the door, and theouter wall 147 of the housing 1411 and the lock operating knob 150 areexposed inside the door.

Hereinafter, the manner of handling and functions of the lockinginstrument of the present invention will be fully described.

The function of the locking instrument according to the presentinvention principally consists of two stages, one of which is thereleased stage or the first stage, and the other of which is the lockedstage or the second stage. F168. 1 and 5 show the second stage, while F168. 2 and 6 show the first stage and the description with regard to thefunction of the parts inside the locking instrument will be made in theorder of the second stage to the first stage, that is, from the lockedstage to the released stage.

During the released or second stage as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, if one ofthe engagement projections 122 provided on a lower portion of themagnetic key 121 is inserted downwardly and obliquely into theengagement groove 117 provided on a lower portion of the front plug 101and the key is then moved into an osculating position with the frontplug 101, it will then rest in a posture as shown with the broken linein F IG. 1.

At this moment, that is, when the key and the front plug completelycontact each other, the powerful magnetic pieces embedded in the key1121 attract the floating balls in the cylindrical spacings 11111 to therespective positions corresponding to the recessed portions 113. In thisstate, said floating balls 1112 are ready to enter the recessed portionsrespectively, in other words, the second stage wherein the pistonlikemembers 1100 cannot advance deep in the respective cylindrical holes 100and are ready to be converted to the first stage wherein they can enterdeep therein.

As the key 1211 is subsequently turned one-fourth revolution in the leftdirection, the disc plate 100 is also rotated through the front plug,cylindrical barrels 1031, and pistonlike members 1041 and thereby thecam 129 on said disc plate we is pressed by the cam plane 128 on thebacking plug 124, with the result of causing said pistonlike member 104to advance deep in said cylindrical hole while said balls 112 are movedto the recessed portions 113. The rotation of said disc plate 106 istransmitted to the lock operating member 138 through the means explainedpreviously thereby to cause the operating member 138 to swing thesegment 146 with the major arc edge. Therefore, the locking instrumentof the present invention is effective to rigidly fasten the door with asense of security as can well be appreciated. In FIG. 8, the lockinginstrument designed as heretofore fully described with respect to thefirst embodiment of the present invention is modified in such a way asto provide recessed portions 204 for accommodating balls 203 on portionsof the bottom planes 202 corresponding to free end planes 201 ofpistonlike members. If a lower sidewall 205 of each recessed portion 204is imparted with a gentle slope toward the opening of the cylindricalspacing 206, said balls 203 can easily escape from the recessed portion204 and return to space 206.

Referring to FIG. 9, this embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed. In this third embodiment, the locking instrument of the firstembodiment is modified in such a way as to provide a plurality ofcylindrical barrels integrally constructed with a single element 251 andalso to provide a plurality of pistonlike members 252 integrallyconstructed with a disc plate 253 by having each of the pistonlikemembers projecting therefrom. This structure has an advantage that saidcylindrical barrels and pistonlike members can be easily manufactured.

Referring to FIG. 10, the locking instrument of the main embodiment ismodified in such a way as to provide each aperture 301, with a vertex302, the cross section thereof being provided as shown in FIG. 10through the length thereof, so that the balls 304 can be returned to thevertices when not influenced by themagnets.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the structure of thelocking instrument is largely modified so that a full description ishereinafter (see FIGS. with reference to FIGS. 11-13.

A plurality of cylindrical apertures 353 are provided in housing 363, asshown. These apertures 353 are equally spaced (see FIG. 13) and eachreceives therein a slidable pistonlike member 355. This embodiment ofthe invention is quite similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 except that in thisinstance some of the elements are made integral rather than assembledfrom complemental pieces. Pistonlike members 355 are integrallyconstructed with disc plate 361 with each extending substantiallyparallel to the disc plug 351. At an optional position on the frontplane 364 of plug 351, a setting projection 366 is provided which iscomplemental to recess 368 carried by a key 367 and effective toosculate with the front plane 364 of the disc plug 351. It now will beappreciated that this embodiment, as thus far described, functions inthe same manner as that described in FIG. 1, so that when the key isbrought into contact with the surface 364 the balls move into thechambers 360.

Housing 363 is provided with internal threaded grooves 371 and externalthreaded grooves 372 are provided on the outer periphery of the backingplug 373 which is screwed thereinto to shut the opening. As in the firstembodiment of this invention there is provided a compression spring 393which functions in the same manner as that-shown in FIG. 1. Also, itwill be noted that FIG. 1 shows the general arrangement of the operationof FIG. 11 and FIG. 2 shows that shown in FIG. 12.

Further in FIGS. 11 and 12, locking rod guide members 375 are fastenedadjacent to the outer plane 374 of backing plug 373. Said guide members375 comprise a disc 377 arranged parallel to the backing plug 373 andchannel member 378 is integrally formed with said disc 377. As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, the plug 373 and disc 377 are each provided withaligned apertures and arranged to have extend therethrough the barmembers 380, said bar being associated with the disc plate 361.

In the locking rod guide spacing 382 between said channel 'member 378and disc 377 is provided a locking rod 383,

which is slidably arranged in slot 382 and is formed at one end with achamfered contact surface 385 for engagement with an edge of bar 380 andat its terminal end it can be reciprocated into a locking rod-receivingposition with socket 388.

The locking instrument of the present invention is thus con structed asheretofore described and in this embodiment is rigidly fitted into afitting hole 390 on a frame of a hinged door 389. While on one hand thefront plane 364 of the front plug is exposed outside the door 389 and onthe other hand the locking rod guide members 375 are exposed inside thedoor 389.

Hereinafter the manner of handling and functions of the lockinginstrument of the present invention will be fully described insubsequent order.

When the locking instrument of the present invention is in the lockedstage as shown in FIG. 11, the key must be brought into engagement withplate 364 and with the projection 366 in registration with recess 368.The balls are then attracted by the magnetic pieces 369.so as toposition them at the respective positions corresponding to the recessedportions 360. While in this state the locking rod 383 can be moved, bymeans of a handle member (not shown) provided on the outside of the door389, to shift the rod out of socket 388. Since the balls are nowpositioned in chambers 360 the chamfered edge of the rod will pass overthe end of element 380 overcoming the spring 391 and, thus, retain theballs in their confined location.

As the locking instrument of the present invention operates in aheretofore described manner, said released state as shown in FIG. 12 isconverted from the locked state as shown in FIG. 11.

The reversal operation from the released state to the locked state canbe made by shifting said locking rod 383 in the opposite direction, thatis, in the direction of the top end 387 thereof. When the locking rod383 is completely shifted to enter in the locking rod-receiving socket388, the locking state can be established while the sidewall 395 leavesthe projecting end 394 of the square bar 380 is permitted by means ofthe compression spring 393 to enter the locking rod guide spacing 382.At the same time, the pistonlike members 355 are moved out of therespective apertures 353 while causing the balls to move out of thechambers into spacings 358.

Hereafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 14.

The locking instrument in the sixth embodiment is modified as to theembodiment number five in such a way as to provide a plurality ofapertures 401 and a plurality of pistonlike members 402 for associationtherewith.

As shown, there may be arranged in one or more rows or on a curved line.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafterdescribed with reference to the attached drawings, particularly FIGS.15-18.

In this embodiment, a plurality of cylindrical apertures 453 areprovided on the back plane 452 of a thick front plug to furnishcylindrical barrels 454. These apertures 453 are suitably annularlyspaced thereon and carry respective pistonlike members 455 slidable inthe axial direction thereof. In each of these holes 453, a spacing 458is fonned between a free end plane 457 of each of the pistonlike members455 and the bottom plane 456 of each of the holes 453. In thesecylindrical spacings, balls 459 each smaller in diameter than either ofthe bottom planes 456 of the cylindrical barrels 454 are provided. Oneach free end plane 45') of the pistonlike members, chambers 460effective to completely accommodate balls 459 are provided at optionalpositions. Said pistonlike members 455 projected into the apertures 453from the front plane 462 of a disc plate 461. In this form of theinvention cylindrical housing 463 is integral with the cylindricalbarrel 454. The front plane 464 of the front plug 451 is provided with arecess to receive the key 468.

A notch 400 for receiving an extension 407 provided on the key 408coincides with the front plane 404 of the plug and is provided at asuitable position on the annular sidewall 400. As explained earlier, themagnetic elements 409 are used also here to control the balls 459 andlift them from their blocking positions into positions where they may bereceived in the chambers 400 provided in the pistons 455.

The peripheral inner surface of the front 470 of the cylindri calhousing is undercut and arranged to receive an annular member 472, thelatter being retained therein by screws 473. As in the earlier form ofthis invention, there is a spring 470 positioned in the chamber providedbetween the front plug 451 and the element that carries the pistons 455.Lock means 481 are provided at two optional positions about the annularouter plane 479 of the annular member 472 and opposite each other. Thedepth of these locking means 401 is less than the diameter of each ofthe balls 459. A locking recess 403 engageable with said locking meansis provided on the locking disc 482 which are slidably fitted in theinner peripheral wall of the annular member. The locking disc 402includes an offstanding pillar 488 and an operator means or knob 409.

The locking instrument of the present embodiment of the invention isthus constructed and to fasten together the complementally perforatedplates 492 and 493, said locked plates 492 and 493 being interposedbetween the cylindrical housing 463 and the locking enlarged head 409and adapted to receive therethrough the disc 402.

The locking instrument of this embodiment functions in the hereinafterdescribed manner.

When the magnetic key 408 is osculated to the front plane 464 of thefront plug 451 by engaging the setting extension 407 in the notch 400,said key provided with the magnetic pieces 409 attracts the floatingballs 459 in the respective cylindrical spacings 450 to the positionscorresponding to the respective recessed portions 400. In this state thepistonlike members 455 can advance into the respective apertures 453.

At this time, the locking head 409 can now be pressed in the directionof the cylindrical housing 403 overcoming the pressure of spring 470 andthen when the disc 402 is in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 10the knob 409 can be rotated to withdraw the disc by means of aligningthe grooves 400 with the locking means 481. Thereafter the entire knob489 can be withdrawn (see dotted lines in FIG. 10) so that perforatedmembers 492 and 493 can be separated.

In order to reestablish the locked stage, the reversal of operation justdescribed is performed. After the grooves of locking disc 402 arealigned with locking means 401 and moved inwardly until the disc is onceagain in the position shown in FIG. 10, the knob 409 is turned to lockthe disc in position. Thereafter the key is removed and the springcauses body 4011 to move forward so the balls can fall from the chambersand once again block the pistons 455.

As a locking instrument of the type having heretofore little possibilityof releasing without the magnetic key, this locking instrument has beenproposed wherein, as hereinbefore described, the needles are pivoted tobe freely turnable in respect to their pointing direction and the pointsthereof are freely shiftable in the two-dimensional space.

Another embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and20.

In this embodiment, the locking instrument is modified in such a way asto provide a recessed portion 503 extending inwardly from the free endplane 502 of each of the pistonlike members 5011. Also, this lockinginstrument is modified in such a way as to provide two legs 505 onanother end plane 504 of each of the pistonlike members 5011, said endplane projecting from the associated cylindrical barrel. These two legs505 are symmetrically arranged while the center of symmetry is thecentral point of the projecting end plane 504. A plurality ofperforation 500, 509 and 510 are provided in a pistonlike member 507comprising the disc plate 500 effective to rigidly retain saidpistonlike members 501, and said legs can be positioned in pairs of theperforations 500, 509 and 510.

These perforations 503510 are arranged around the axis of point 111 asdescribed in the first embodiment, that is, around the central point 511of the pistonlike member 507 with a different relative angle 512.

A pair of said legs 505 are inserted in any compatible pair ofperforations 500, 509 or 510 whereby said pistonlike member 501 isassembled in said structural member 500 while the relative angle 512around the central point 511 is alternatively selected, and thereforecan alternatively select the position for the recessed portion 503around the axis of point 111.

In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 21, the locking instrument inthe first embodiment previously described is modified in such a way asto provide an integral single leg 551 which projects from ahexagonal-shaped pistonlike member 552. Said single leg 551 thus formedis of the same hexagonal cross section as that of said pistonlike member552. On the other hand, in order to enable a hole 553 to receive saidhexagonal' leg 551, said hole 553 is also formed hexagonally. When saidleg 5511 is inserted in said hole 553, the relative angle around thecentral point 555 of the pistonlike member fitting plane 554 withrespect to said lleg 551 shall be adjusted relative to said hole 553whereby the position of the recessed portion 550 around the axis of thecylindrical spacing 111 can be alternatively defined.

Therefore, since the position for the recess 503 around said axis can bedefined by selecting the position around said axis for thebottom plane109 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the cylindrical barrel or the free end plane 502of the pistonlike member provided with said recessed portion 503 andrigidly assembled to the structural member 500, a plurality of unitarybodies of the bottom plane 109 of the cylindrical barrel or thepistonlike member 501 of the same shape provided with the recessedportion 503 at one portion can be prepared in the course ofmanufacturing process. When these unitary bodies are to be assembled,only the position therefor around said axis is selected so that theposition for said recessed portion 503 around said axis can be simplydefined. Therefore, the locking instrument can be easily manufacturedand simply assembled.

This is different from a locking instrument of the type whereinpositions for recessed portions 503 are determined and subsequently saidrecessed portions are formed on each of the free end planes 502 of thepistonlike members or on each of the bottom planes 1109 of thecylindrical barrels. However, the locking instrument in theseembodiments is of die type wherein unitary bodies of the same shape areprepared in advance and when they are to be assembled in the lockinginstrument, adjustment of assembling said unitary bodies therein candefine the desired positions for said recessed portion. Thus, thedesired locking instrument of the present invention can be obtained.

Another embodiment will be hereinafter described with reference to FIG.22 in which one of the pistonlike members 0011 and its associatedportion are shown.

In this embodiment, each free pistonlike member 001 is modified in sucha way as to provide in a pistonlike member 0011 an enlarged bore 004communicating with the chamber 003 into which the ball 0114 will bereceived. Positioned within said base 004 is a spring urged headed pin005, the shoulder portion 007 of which engages an annular seat 000 thusretaining it in the bore.

The locking instrument is thus designed so that, even if each floatingball 014 is attracted to the position facing said chamber 013, said ball014 cannot enter the chamber unless it is thereinto. In other words,said pin 005 is effective to close the opening 013 and prevent said ball014 from unexpectedly entering the chamber 014. Therefore, even if thelocking instrument of this type is roughly shaken, while said chamber003 is facing upwardly, pin 005 will prevent said ball 0114 fromentering the chamber.

In the case of a locking instrument wherein said pin 005 is notprovided, the locking instrument can be easily released without the keybecause the floating ball 014 can easily fall in the recessed portion003 when said locking instrument is shaken while said portion 603 facesupward. For this reason, said pin 605 is provided therein to preventsaid ball 614 from unexpectedly entering said recessed portion 603, withless possibility of releasing without the magnetic key 615.

FIG. 23 pertains to another embodiment hereinafter fully described.

In this form of the invention the pin 605 shown in FIG. 22 is nownumbered 655 and is longer than the depth of the recessed portion 653.As explained in connection with FIG. 22, a spring 662 is mounted undertension between the back 660 of said pin 655 and a disc plate 661rigidly retaining said pistonlike member 651. Therefore, said pin 655 ispressed toward the cylindrical space 658 and closes the aperture 655while the top end plane 663 thereof projects out of said chamber.

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 24 and 25,the locking instrument is modified in such a way as to provide eachpiston end wall 702 with a recess 703 which is offset from the axis ofsaid pistonlike member and in which is embedded a magnet 705. Thissmaller magnet 705 has a magnetic force which is much less than themagnetic pieces 707 which are embedded in the key.

Alternatively, the combined magnetic force of said magnet 705 and saidmagnetic piece 707 may be employed therein so as to attract the ball 709at a certain position in the cylindrical spacing 708 and, in addition,said ball 709 may be a magnet. In this case the total magnetic force ofsaid magnet 705, magnetic piece 707 and magnetic ball 709 must beadjusted so as to attract said ball 709 to the position corresponding tothe chamber 703 in order to establish the first stage.

In yet another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, thelocking instrument embodiment is modified so that two of the pistons(see FIG. 27) are integrated, as shown at 762, into one element withtheir end walls being arranged with a slot and the end wall 761, ratherthan having a smooth uninterrupted surface as shown in the other formsof the invention, are provided with a barrier 755; the barrierfunctioning to position the balls 753-753 in separate areas adjacent tothe chambers 758-758 and into which the balls will be received when theproper magnetic key is used.

In this locking instrument, when the key 757 is placed against the frontplane 761 of the disc plug, said floating balls are attracted to thepositions corresponding to the chambers 758 and 759 (see FIG. 26) in thespacings 751, and thereafter pistonlike members 762 are ready to advanceinto said spacings to accommodate said floating balls.

In the main embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 28, the lockinginstrument is modified by providing the end wall 803 of the pistonlikemembers with an offstanding annular projection 802 surrounding thechamber 801.

With this type of locking instrument, even if the locking instrument isroughly shaken with said chambers facing upward as shown in FIG. 28 andwith the intention of releasing the lock without the key, the peripheraledge 802 will prevent the floating balls 804 from rolling over the edgeinto the edge 801. Therefore, said locking instrument is so secure thatwithout the key, it cannot be easily released.

Another embodiment of the invention will hereinafter now be describedwith reference to FIG. 29.

In this embodiment, the locking instrument is modified to provide astructure somewhat resembling that shown in FIG. 27 previouslydescribed. In this embodiment the ball receiving chambers are positionedalternatively between the end wall of the piston and the bottom wall. Inother words, by examining FIG. 29 it will be noted that every otherchamber for a ball is in the piston, while still other chambers toreceive the balls are in the wall, the opposite side of which isarranged to be engaged by the key 855. In view of this, even if personssuffrciently skilled in the art of releasing conventional lockinginstruments try to release the locking instrument described in thisembodiment of the invention they will find it impossible to achieve acondition where the balls can be rolled into the respective slotsbecause either the first and third chambers 854 or the second and fourthchambers 854 expose their Openings upward while th t r weather. .smsni sdownward. Therefore, the locking instrument of the present embodiment ofthe invention cannot be released without the magnetic key.

In yet another embodiment according to the invention shown in FIG. 30,each ball receiving chamber in the end wall of the piston (see FIGS. l7)is displaced from each of the central points of the free end planes 902while the distances 905 are differentiated from one another and also thecenter angles 906 to the lines passing through the centers of saidchambers are differentiated from one another. Thus, a plurality ofunitary pistonlike members 901 of which each free end plane is providedwith the differentiated chamber in distance and in angle from the axisthereof are secured to the front plane of the disc plate 907.

Since the locations of the chambers 904 are defined by a combination ofthe differentiated center angles 906 each between the line horizontallypassing through the central point 903 and the line passing through thecenter of the chamber 904 to said central point 903 and thedifferentiated distances each between the central point 903 to thecenter of the chamber 904, each of said locations being on thecorresponding free end plane 902 of the pistonlike members 901, a largenumber of different locations of the chambers 904 can be determined as awhole. Therefore, a large number of different locking combinations withrespect to the locking instrument and the key can be advantageouslyappreciated.

In the embodiment of FIG. 31, recessed portions 210 are respectivelyprovided about root portions of the barriers 213 for the cylindricalbarrels 212, said root portions being adjacent to the bottom planes 21 lof the cylindrical barrels.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a magnetic lock having an actuating member movable between alocking position and an unlocking position, the combination of: at leastone cylindrical barrel member having one endclosed, a pistonlike memberaxially slidable within said barrel member and defining therewith ashallow ball chamber of substantially cylindrical shape, a magnetizableball having a diameter slightly less than the depth of the ball chamberand freely movable in said ball chamber while blocking axial sliding ofsaid pistonlike member within said barrel member, a ball receivingrecess provided in one of the surfaces delimiting said ball chamber forsnugly accommodating at least a portion of said ball therein, anadditarnent opposing movement of said ball into a position aligned withsaid recess and means coupling one of said barrel members and pistonlikemember to said actuating member, whereby when said ball is aligned withsaid recess said pistonlike member is freed to penetrate into saidbarrel member and said actuating member is conditioned to move from saidlocking to said unlocking position.

2. In a lock according to claim 1, means for attaching said pistonlikemember in any one of a plurality of angular positions to said actuatingmember.

3. In a lock according to claim 1, a closing member in said recessresiliently retained in closing position and retractable from saidposition in response to pressure from said ball.

4. In a lock according to claim 1, said recess being provided in the endsurface of said pistonlike member.

5. In a lock according to claim 1, said recess being provided in one ofthe surfaces of said barrel member.

6. In a lock according to claim I, a plurality of ball chambers havingtheir pistonlike members provided with recesses on the end surfacesthereof and of ball chambers provided with recesses in the surfaces ofsaid barrel members.

7. In a lock according to claim I, a plurality of ball chambers havingthe recesses thereof at difi'erent distances from the axis of thechamber and in different angular positions relative to said axis.

8. In a lock according to claim 1, a magnet in a surface portion of saidball chamber spaced from said recess and defining a locking position ofsaid ball.

9. In a lock according to claim 1, a plurality of b ll h f

1. In a magnetic lock having an actuating member movable between alocking position and an unlocking position, the combination of: at leastone cylindrical barrel member having one end closed, a pistonlike memberaxially slidable within said barrel member and defining therewith ashallow ball chamber of substantially cylindrical shape, a magnetizableball having a diameter slightly less than the depth of the ball chamberand freely movable in said ball chamber while blocking axial sliding ofsaid pistonlike member within said barrel member, a ball receivingrecess provided in one of the surfaces delimiting said ball chamber forsnugly accommodating at least a portion of said ball therein, anadditament opposing movement of said ball into a position aligned withsaid recess and means coupling one of said barrel members and pistonlikemember to said actuating member, whereby when said ball is aligned withsaid recess said pistonlike member is freed to penetrate into saidbarrel member and said actuating member is conditioned to move from saidlocking to said unlocking position.
 2. In a lock according to claim 1,means for attaching said pistonlike member in any one of a plurality ofangular positions to said actuating member.
 3. In a lock according toclaim 1, a closing member in said recess resiliently retained in closingposition and retractable from said position in response to pressure fromsaid ball.
 4. In a lock according to claim 1, said recess being providedin the end surface of said pistonlike member.
 5. In a lock according toclaim 1, said recess being provided in one of the surfaces of saidbarrel member.
 6. In a lock according to claim 1, a plurality of ballchambers having their pistonlike members provided with recesses on theend sUrfaces thereof and of ball chambers provided with recesses in thesurfaces of said barrel members.
 7. In a lock according to claim 1, aplurality of ball chambers having the recesses thereof at differentdistances from the axis of the chamber and in different angularpositions relative to said axis.
 8. In a lock according to claim 1, amagnet in a surface portion of said ball chamber spaced from said recessand defining a locking position of said ball.
 9. In a lock according toclaim 1, a plurality of ball chambers adjacent to each other and havingmagnetic balls therein providing a predetermined position throughmagnetic attraction between said balls.